Precision radiotherapy

At GenesisCare, we provide specialist cancer care to thousands of people worldwide. We offer cutting-edge, innovative cancer treatments that are clinically proven to be safe and effective.

We’re proud to be the first independent healthcare provider in the UK to introduce the MRIdian – an advanced MR linac. This world-class radiotherapy system is available at our centres in Oxford and Cromwell Hospital in London and can be accessed by patients throughout the UK. It’s a new way of delivering stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR). SABR allows radiation doses that can control tumour growth to be delivered in a much shorter time – just five days – and there is evidence that it may be more effective than chemoradiation in prolonging survival for pancreatic cancer. For these reasons, SABR is an accepted standard of care in many parts of the world. At the current time, it is not provided by the NHS in England for pancreatic cancer.

Tumours in the abdomen are often in close proximity to normal tissues, such as the stomach or small bowel which are at risk of damage from conventional radiotherapy. The combination of an MRI scanner with a radiotherapy machine, as well as other technical innovations that have been incorporated into MRIdian, offers advantages for the delivery of safe and effective SABR.

GenesisCare is an expert provider of SABR treatments and has invested in the MRIdian to offer our patients access to this latest, world-class treatment here in the UK.

Enquire now about the MRIdian

The MRIdian is available at our centres in Oxford and Cromwell Hospital in London. Your cancer specialist can refer you for a consultation. We’re recognised by all major insurers and we’ll help you with transport depending on treatment and locations, when required.

Benefits of the MRIdian

See with greater accuracy

The MRI scanner gives the ability to see and target the tumour, while sparing normal tissue, and thereby reducing the chance of side effects

Adapt to changes

As the position and shape of the tumour and normal tissue changes, the MRIdian allows us to alter the way the radiotherapy is given at each treatment for the best possible outcome

Target during treatment

If a tumour temporarily moves out of position – when you breathe, for example – the treatment will automatically pause

MRIdian radiotherapy for pancreas cancer

We believe that MRI-guided radiotherapy has the potential to improve treatment across a range of tumours, but that the evidence for its use in pancreatic cancer is particularly promising. The COVID-19 pandemic has restricted access to surgery and chemotherapy and makes chemoradiation less attractive due to the need to visit the hospital every day for five to six weeks. This makes it even more important that all avenues to help people affected by pancreatic cancer are explored.

Having radiotherapy on the MRIdian may be suitable for you if you have pancreatic cancer near to other organs or a tumour that is likely to move around when to breathing. The MRIdian is mostly used to treat inoperable tumours, which is common in patients with pancreatic cancer. It’s not usually helpful if your pancreatic cancer has spread to other organs.

As each treatment can take over an hour, you must also be comfortable lying within the MRIdian for that length of time.

Your oncologist (a consultant doctor who specialises in cancer) will plan your treatment by discussing your pancreatic cancer diagnosis, treatments to date and overall health with a team of oncologists who are highly trained in delivering MRIdian radiotherapy. By working together, they’ll create a personalised treatment plan and will explain the treatment in detail to you and provide you with written information about what to expect, as well as give you plenty of opportunity to ask questions.

If you choose to have your cancer treatment at GenesisCare, you’ll also have access to integrated cancer care, such as psychological support and wellbeing therapies, at no extra cost to you or your insurer. These therapies have been shown to reduce the burden of cancer and improve your quality of life, by helping to reduce symptoms and side effects of treatments and alleviate cancer-related concerns.

This is our commitment to offer world-class care to every patient with cancer.

Side effects

All treatments carry risks, so it’s important that you discuss your treatment and any options you have with your doctor to understand what’s right for you and what to expect.

What does MRIdian treatment involve?

Here is an outline of what to expect after your initial consultation and before, during and after your treatment. There are four stages to the process: your planning appointment, planning, treatment and follow-up. Before your first appointment, your care team will call you to explain any preparation instructions in advance of your appointments and to answer any questions.

Our GenesisCare centre in Oxford is rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC)

Patient stories

Liz's story

MRIdian radiotherapy for inoperable pancreatic cancer.

Charles' story

MRIdian radiotherapy for a lymph node on his arota.

Claire's story

MRIdian radiotherapy treatment for pancreatic cancer.

Our team of experts

To make sure you get the best treatment based on your needs, your consultant will work with a team of selected SABR consultants specialising in pancreatic cancer to review and plan your personalised treatment. 

Dr John Conibear

MBBCh, BSc, MRCP, MSc, FRCR, MD(Res)

Clinical Oncologist

London Cromwell Hospital +1

Dr Veni Ezhil

MBBS, MRCP, FRCR

Clinical Oncologist

Guildford +3

Dr Philip Camilleri

MD, MRCP, FRCR

Clinical Oncologist

Oxford +1

Dr Luis Aznar-Garcia

MD, PhD, MRCR

Consultant Clinical Oncologist

Nottingham +2

Dr Andy Gaya

BSc, MB BS, MRCP, FRCR, MD

Clinical Oncologist

London Cromwell Hospital

Dr James Good

MSc PhD FRCR

Clinical Oncologist

Oxford +1

Dr Alex Martin

MA, BM BCh, MD, MRCP, FRCR

Clinical Oncologist

Cambridge +1

Find your nearest centre

Benefits of the MRIdian

See with greater accuracy

The MRI scanner gives the ability to see and target the tumour, while sparing normal tissue, and thereby reducing the chance of side effects

Adapt to changes

As the position and shape of the tumour and normal tissue changes, the MRIdian allows us to alter the way the radiotherapy is given at each treatment for the best possible outcome

Target during treatment

If a tumour temporarily moves out of position – when you breathe, for example – the treatment will automatically pause